Beiji’s liberation was announced by Iraqi security forces back in October 2015 — the siege imposed upon Baiji’s oil refinery by the islamic State was lifted. What the aftermath marked did not resemble liberation however.

As the city awaits reconstruction, official sources allege that sections of the refinery have been dismantled, looted and sold for profit. Iraq has lost out on half of the refined fuel that the oil city once provided. Worse still, the latest theft sprees may incapacitate the refinery complex beyond repair.